Trust in the Lord with all your heart

Sudah hafal Amsal 3:5-6?

Percayalah kepada Tuhan dengan segenap hatimu, dan janganlah bersandar kepada pengertianmu sendiri. Akuilah Dia dalam segala lakumu, maka Ia akan meluruskan jalanmu.

Sekarang kita akan bahagikan ayat tersebut kepada beberapa bahagian untuk memahaminya dengan lebih mendalam. Sebelum kita boleh melangkah lebih jauh dengan Tuhan dalam hidup kita, pertamanya kita mesti mempercayaiNYA dalam segala apa yang kita perbuat, jika tidak, maka sia-sia saja.

1) Percayalah kepada Tuhan dengan segenap hatimu (Trust in the Lord with all your heart)

Apa yang dimaksudkan dengan PERCAYA? What does it mean by TRUST? Isn't trusting someone is so difficult especially when men disappoint us again and again?

- Yakin/Confident
- Beriman/Trust/Believe/Have faith
- Berpegang Teguh/Hold fast (though we fall, but we still hold fast unto HIM)
- Berserah/Surrender/ Lepaskan kepadaNya/ Let go
- Tindakan yang aktif/ Active action

Kasihi/sayang - Percaya Tuhan yang sayangi.

TRUST = LOVE.

Percayalah dengan segenap hatimu, bukan dengan separuh hatimu walaupun selalunya adalah lebih senang untuk percaya sedikit-sedikit.

Apa yang kita percaya apabila kita berdepan dengan masalah?

Kita lebih rela percaya akan keadaan daripada percaya akan Tuhan???

2) Dan janganlah bersandar kepada pengertianmu sendiri
(Lean not on your own understanding)
*Ambil perhatian perkataan "dan"* Ini bermakna setelah kamu mempercayai Tuhan dengan segenap hati, janganlah bersandar kepada pengertianmu sendiri.

Maksud "jangan"?

- Tidak mahu/boleh
- Larangan/ forbid

Tuhan beritahu kita untuk tidak bersandar pada pengertian kita sendiri - bukan pengertian rakan kita/orang lain. Tau mengapa? Kerana kita selalu mengalami masalah terbesar dengan pengertian kita sendiri.

Antara sebab kita TIDAK patut bersandar pada pengertian kita sendiri:

PENGERTIAN KITA TERBATAS/LIMITED. Kita tidak dapat melihat gambaran yang besar- BIG PICTURE.

"Pengertian" bermaksud:
- Kefahaman ( mental capacity )
- Pengetahuan/ knowledge
- Sikap (What word that first come out from our mouth when we face problemss?? Positive or negative words? )

3) Akuilah Dia dalam segala lakumu (In all your ways acknowledge HIM)

Perhatikan perkataan "segala" - bermakna kita tidak boleh pilih-memilih.

- Ianya adalah satu proses berterusan.
- Mengakui KeTuhananNya atau penguasaanNya di atas segala kekusutan kita dalam hidup.

"Lakumu" bermaksud:

- Perbuatan/perlakuan
- Pilihan hidup
- Keputusan hidup
- Apa saja yang terjadi



4) Maka Ia akan meluruskan jalanmu.

3 poin di atas adalah tentang apa yang perlu kita perbuat dan poin terakhir ialah apa yang Tuhan akan lakukan jika kita lakukan ketiga tiga perkara di atas.

"Akan" bermaksud sesuatu yang PASTI.

Tuhan akan luruskan jalan kita walaupun jalan kita dalam hidup ini lingkang-pukang.

Dan....

hasilnya....

Kita akan tenang menghadapi masalah bersama Tuhan kita.








I pray that God will help us to learn to TRUST HIM in all situations and whenever problems come our way, it's easier to complain when we are at BOILING POINTS but let us learn together to trust HIM and lean not on our own understanding =D

Streotyping

First time I read this book in Camp Cameron. It really attract me because it is so true to us-students and also many others. Have fun reading =D

My friends tell me that I have more than one bad habit! One of my worst is jumping to conclusions about people's characters before I have taken the trouble to find out about them. To make matters worse, I attribute bad motives to those whom I know well because I have something of a persecution complex.

Most of us indulge in stereotyping: "I hate Americans", "I don't like women"; "All men are immature". Placing people in pigeon holes is very easy to do. It may be the way she speaks on the telephone (sounds a bossy type), the clothes he wears(looks real smoothy), the car she drives(if it's a banger she has no self respect; if it's expensive, she's extravagant) etc etc.

I remember reading a letter from someone who is now one of my closes colleagues. He was considering joining Moorlands and had asked several questions. I wrote back with the answers. In his reply, he queried one or two aspects of the curriculum. They were harmless, genuine questions, but I immediately reacted, and saw him as a critical person, taking an instant dislike to him. How wrong I was.

May I confess something else? For years there has been one particular nationality which I can't stand(I'd rather not say which one!). Recently I met several people from that country and I was quite surprised by how pleasant they were!

We sometimes dislike or like those who remind us of someone else, according to whether we got on well with them. I react to people's first names. I like everyone called Elizabeth because all the Elizabeths I have known have been lovely.

People also make assumptions about how others are going to react to them.

Some students go through the whole of their 3/4 years without ever having set foot in my study. They assume I'm too busy or too important to spend time with them.

I'm rather a touchy person. Blame my past if you like. I get offended easily. I take things personally. If a close friend forgets to do something he promised, I accuse him of doing it deliberately to spite me. I forget the hundred other things he has remembered.

We tend to do the same denominationally. Those on the "reformed" side sometimes assume that all "charismatics" are incessantly babbling in tongues, shouting "hallelujah", and indulging in every kind of emotionalism. Similarly, charismatic Christians often accuse their reformed brethren of being kill-joys, rejoicing in stodgy church services and splitting hairs over every doctrine. It is true that some charismatics are wild chandelier swingers and some reformed Christians do wallow in their misery, but to assume that they are all like that is foolish.

What do Anglicans think about the Brethren? Comments like, "Oh I thought you people always..." are often accompanied by half stifled sniggers. I know some Free Church people who have never met a real live Anglican, yet they apparently know what makes them tick.

How do you view MISSIONARIES, PASTORS AND EVANGELISTS? A super (or-sub-) human breed who live in TOTAL VICTORY without failures and weaknesses? We naively imagine that their food, petrol and electricity arrive down a magic chute direct from heaven without being paid for. So we don't encourage them to talk about money. As for personal problems, we assume they don't have any.

The trouble with having the wrong conception of people is that we behave towards them according to the way we view them. Often this does not conform to reality, so we hurt each other because we don't know the facts, We react negatively and rob ourselves of real fellowship and ministry into one another's lives by creating distance and sometimes hostility. Our responses are "gut reactions" rather than mature actions based on facts.

INSTEAD OF BEING ENRICHING, RELATIONSHIPS CAN BE A HINDRANCE.

We misunderstand those we don't know because we fail to take into account the possibility that we may be PREJUDICED. And we accuse those we do know by assuming we have perfect knowledge of their INNER MOTIVATION.








WHAT WE DO TO EACH OTHER WE ALSO DO TO GOD.

To be continued...

Taken from the book: FREE TO BE ME

Choices in life

I played a game with God before-I just find it's silly now but at least it was a good discovery to me =D

Since I was young until now, people have always told me that God knows everything. Then one day I see Genesis 1:1 in different view. I asked this,

" Why would God create heavens and earth only to let earth to be destruct by men some day?? " He knows what.

" Knowing that hell is going to exist some day, why let Lucifer live?" He knows what.

"Knowing that Adam and Eve are going to sin, why HE wants to create men in the very first place?" He knows what.

"Knowing that by creating men, HE will have heartaches, headaches and etc etc. Why not spare the pain?" He knows what.

The game that I played was..







While I'm deciding whether to do A or B, I have this thought that haih..God already determine and knows. So I must prove HIM wrong. While I decide to do A, I will change my mind later and later change my mind again. That's what I do a few times till I find it's torturing to do so. God enable us to think and we are free to make our own choices. We can choose to be drug addict..beggar... or university student.. police..and bla bla bla..

I do wish that our choices have been determined by God all the way long so that we need not suffer when come to certain hard decisions. Should I or shouldn't I? We have to take time to weigh the pros and cons before making that decision. If God, like a rigid dad would have given us the answer, isn't it going to be so easy? Save time.

At the same time, isn't it boring as well???? And not to forget, human nature-we like to REBEL. Most of the time, we don't like decisions made for us by others.

Someone did asked my bible study teacher before. Why God did not create us as robots? Then HE can just press any button if HE wants us to do this and we will just follow HIS will. When God call us to love our enemy, isn't it easier for HIM to press a button and we will love instead of telling us which will fall on deaf ears again and again?

Then probably Bible won't exist too because there are so many people in the BIBLE who go against God again and again. You can find them from Old testament till New Testament. God is always the same yesterday, today and forever. Aren't we too? Since way long back our ancestors rebel endlessly from genesis til Malachi..till Jesus died and rose again.. people still rebel. Thank God most people in the Bible realize about their mistake and chose to turn to God and repent from their sins.

21st century?

We still REBEL against God. We are a bunch of sinful people. Some choose to go back to God and repent over their sins but some choose not to do so. Has God determine your choice? Wouldn't it make things easier for God by making everyone love HIM, follow HIS commands and etc etc- like HITLER? Yet..God wants us to obey HIM WILLINGLY..LOVE HIM WILLINGLY...

NOT BY FORCE!

Hitler did force many people to obey him and no doubt, people fear him. The question is..Did he find any satisfaction at last in what he did? He committed suicide at last.

Do we want people to love and obey us willingly or unwillingly?

Philemon 1:14

But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary.

Even when Paul asked Philemon to take back Onesimus, who was considered as useless to Philemon once upon a time but now useful to both Paul and Philemon, he wanted Philemon to take Onesimus back WILLINGLY.

That's why we, the modern Chinese no longer practise traditional marriage whereby parents chose our spouse. We believe in choosing our own spouse, our CHOICE, not somebody else's choice. Whether it turn out for good or for worst, it's our CHOICE.

Choices must be made willingly.

Thank God we are not ROBOTS. Or else we would not have been able to choose to eat McD, Sate Kajang, Nandos and etc etc. We would not have been able to choose our friends, whether should we learn to play guitar or drum, and so on...

Imagine a world where everyone has to eat bread everyday, love when they have to, obey when they have to... IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT THEY WANT. Geeeeeeeee... boring!

We, human will always want others to know what we want because THAT MATTERS A LOT TO US. That's why we have Constitution(Perlembagaan Persekutuan) that ensure your rights and also other laws to protect people's interest. We want others to know what we are thinking, how we feel ..we don't want to move on in life feeling like no one respect us as person, no one ever concern with what we want. No wonder FACEBOOK, BLOG, FORUMS and etc etc exist so that we can share our thoughts, know what we like, know what we are doing/feeling at that moment and also to wish us when it's our birthday!=p

Anyone who has power would love to exercise their power of control towards their subordinates. God is SOVEREIGN. Yet when He create us, He create us with BRAIN to think, FEELINGS to feel, and the WILLINGNESS in us so that we won't dread doing whatever we want to do in this life. However, it does not mean that life is like a bed of roses. It just mean that with trials and sufferings, we have the choice to turn to GOD =D

Willingly of course! =D

2 Corinthians 9:7


Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Revelation 20:12

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.


The judgment is based on the choices we made. We do have free will..to follow the RIGHT OR WRONG PATH..

Genesis 2:16-17

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Genesis 3:6

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

P/s: Can't think of anyone in their right mind would want people to go against their command. It means from the very BEGINNING, God already let Adam and Eve(first man and woman) to exercise their free will.

Without love?

#2 hero of faith: Horatio Spafford-It is well with my soul

Have you ever heard of Horatio Spafford? Probably no but I believe most of us have heard the song "It is well with my soul" before.. and sang it in church. Well, let's get to know the author of the song =D

He's the one who wrote the song "It is well with my soul" when he got the news that all his children died (Annie, Maggie, Bessie, Tanetta)when boarding on the grand SS Ville du Havre, a French liner considered the most magnificent ship in existence to France. However, he got a note from his wife, Anna stating "SAVED ALONE".

Horatio stood alone at the bow of the ship. Three miles deep, the cold, glinting ocean held the skeleton of the Ville du Havre and the bodies of his precious little girls.

Then Horatio dug into his pocket and pulled out a piece of hotel stationery and a pencil. He began to scrawl words that flowed from his heart in a TORRENT OF PAIN AND FAITH.


When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.


Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.


Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.


My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!


For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.


But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!


And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Horatio had no idea his daughter, Bertha, yet unborn, would one day sing these words to young soldiers of all nationalities in Jerusalem suffering through their last hours of life. He did not know that his words would inspire Christians throughout the twentieth century and beyond with their powerful message of God's sovereignty and His great love.

Horatio only knew that he could not stop the flow of praise from his own heart as he mourned-and worshipped.

Despite all the sorrows, in 1881, the Spaffords moved to Jerusalem to meet the needs of the people. Through their service, they were able to share Christ with the local Jewish and Muslim communities.

Do get this book and read it =D

P/s: Can we still worship God in the midst of our pain and sufferings?? Horatio did =D We can learn from him.

FAITH vs FEAR

THERE'S MORE TO THIS LIFE




Have you guys ever watch the movie Facing the Giants? Many times we are so fearful of the future. Worrying about many things that we want to get hold of - our career, studies, money, family, blah blah blah...

When the semester starts, I am worry about my studies - will I be able to cope when the subject gets harder and harder? During study week, I am so fearful about exams (Can I do?) After exams, I am worried about the results. During hols, some of us will be worrying where can I earn extra pocket money. SO many things to worry about, to be fearful of and sometimes it does not help us in our walk of faith with our dear LORD JESUS.

Fears will always exist in life forever but the solution is whether we will hold unto God as we face the fears with HIM...

So what is FACING THE GIANTS movie is all about? Take note: facing the giantS. There's "S" there which tells us that there's not only one fear but there's more than 1 fear that Grant Taylor has to face.

An action-packed drama about a Christian high school football coach who uses his undying faith to battle the giants of fear and failure. In six years of coaching, Grant Taylor has never led his Shiloh Eagles to a winning season. After learning that he and his wife Brooke face infertility, Grant discovers that a group of fathers are secretly organizing to have him dismissed as head coach. Devastated by his circumstances, he cries out to God in desperation. When Grant receives a message from an unexpected visitor, he searches for a stronger purpose for his football team. He dares to challenge his players to believe God for the impossible on and off the field. When faced with unbelievable odds, the Eagles must step up to their greatest test of strength and courage. What transpires is a dynamic story of the fight between faith and fear.(source here )

#1 hero: Jim Elliot

Remember this guy? His famous quote is, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

Take time and think about the quote.

A passionate man for God & a missionary whom wife is Elisabeth Elliot.. He and his friends Ed McCully, Roger Youderian, Pete Fleming, and their pilot, Nate Saint were so passionate to reach out to Auca Indians but unfortunately they were killed by them. Even at the time of their death at Palm Beach, they did not fight back. Thinking that his wife will never forgive her husband's murderer.. you may want to think twice again. With God's grace that enable her to forgive, she and her daughter, Valerie later moved to work with Auca Indians who was once murderous Indians. Today, Auca Indians have been transformed to be used by God. Isn't it amazing? =D

You can read further at here

Greetings! =D

Hello this blog is for you guys to share thoughts and knowledge like any recent books that you read and you feel interesting, you can post 'em here. The authors of this blog will be all the current committees (just in case I didn't add them, do add them yah!) Or perhaps any testimony that you want to share to bless others, can also post 'em up so that others can read in the blog =DDD